Frostburg Edges Lions 3-2

After getting off to a slow start by yielding three goals in the early stages of the first half, Penn State Altoona (1-4) battled back to narrow its deficit to one in the second half. But the Lions were unable to come up with the tying score in the defeat.

Seth Murrelle (Sayre, PA/Sayre) and Erikson Miguel (Luanda, Angola/Semente do Saber) scored goals for the Lions. Tanner Yaw (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) made nine saves between the pipes for Penn State Altoona.

Frostburg (1-3-2) caught the Lions flat-footed early, scoring just 1:03 into the game on a quick strike goal. Matt Morris centered the ball from the right side of the box, and K.J. Davis was in front of the open goal to tap it in for the Bobcats' first score.

Frostburg doubled its lead quickly, finding the back of the net again at 7:39. Punya Saleekul sent a long throw-in from the left sideline into the box, and Rodrigo Valenzuela's header deflected into the net to make it 2-0.

Saleekul set up the Bobcats' third goal later in the half. His pass set up Josh McRobie, whose shot from 15 yards out in the middle of the box beat the keeper to make it 3-0.

Penn State Altoona was able to get on the board before halftime. Deontae Mosley (Houston, TX/Hylton) tapped a pass from the top of the box to Murrelle, who fired a strike past the keeper from 15 yards out in the left side of the box to make it 3-1. The goal was Murrelle's team-leading fourth this season.

While keeping Frostburg off of the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, the Lions closed the gap to one goal late in the second half. Miguel converted on a penalty kick at 74:44 for his second goal of the season, bringing his team to within 3-2.

But the Lions could not even the score in the final minutes and were handed the loss.

Frostburg held a 20-10 advantage over Penn State Altoona in total shots, including leading the Lions 12-4 in shots on goal. The Bobcats also led 3-0 in corner kicks.

Penn State Altoona men's soccer hosts another non-conference game this Saturday, September 16 at 2:00 p.m., when the Lions go up against Keystone College at Spring Run Stadium.

Notes: Murrelle, Penn State Altoona's senior midfielder, moved into third place on the Lions' all-time points list (48 points) and into fourth place on the team's all-time goals scored list (18) with his tally tonight.

Photo (by Joel Nelson): Penn State Altoona sophomore midfielder Matteo Galieti (Broomall, PA/Archbishop Carroll) goes for the ball during Wednesday night's loss to Frostburg State University at Spring Run Stadium.